Florida Reinstatement Fees by Suspension Type

The fee to reinstate your Florida driver's license depends on why it was suspended. Florida charges different amounts for different suspension reasons, and you must pay the correct fee for your specific case or your reinstatement will be rejected.

For a suspension due to unpaid traffic citations or court fines, the reinstatement fee is $45. If your license was suspended for a drug conviction, the fee is $150. A suspension tied to a medical condition or failure to pass a vision or hearing test costs $75 to reinstate. If you were suspended for accumulating too many points on your driving record, the fee is also $45.

Some suspensions carry no reinstatement fee at all — for example, if your license was suspended because you failed to pay child support or because of an administrative error by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). In those cases, you pay only the standard license renewal fee if your license has also expired, or nothing if reinstatement alone is what you need.

Key Takeaways

  • Traffic citation and point-based suspensions cost $45 to reinstate; drug conviction suspensions cost $150; medical suspensions cost $75.
  • You must pay the fee that matches your specific suspension reason, or the DHSMV will reject your reinstatement request.
  • Some suspensions (child support, administrative error) have no reinstatement fee, though you may owe a renewal fee if your license expired.
  • Payment must be made to the DHSMV before your reinstatement is processed, either online, by mail, or in person at a driver license office.
  • If you cannot pay the full amount, Florida offers a payment plan for reinstatement fees of $150 or more.

How to Pay Your Reinstatement Fee

You can pay your reinstatement fee online through the DHSMV website, by mail, or in person at any Florida driver license office. Online payment is the fastest route — you can pay when ready and receive confirmation the same day. The DHSMV accepts credit cards, debit cards, and electronic check payments online.

If you pay by mail, send a check or money order made out to the "Florida DHSMV" along with a completed Form HSMV 82053 (process for Reinstatement of Driver License) to the address listed on the form. Mail payment takes 7 to 10 business days to process after the DHSMV receives it. In-person payment at a driver license office is processed when ready, and you can often complete your entire reinstatement on the same day if all other requirements are met.

Do not send cash through the mail. If you pay in person or online, bring or have ready your driver's license number, date of birth, and the reason your license was suspended so the DHSMV can match your payment to your record.

Payment Plans for Higher Fees

If your reinstatement fee is $150 or more — which applies to drug conviction suspensions — you may be able to set up a payment plan with the DHSMV instead of paying the full amount at once. Payment plans allow you to pay in installments over several months.

To request a payment plan, contact the DHSMV directly by phone at 1-844-5-FLORIDA (1-844-535-3742) or visit a driver license office in person. You will need to explain your financial situation and propose a payment schedule. The DHSMV will review your request and either approve or deny the plan. Approval is not automatic, so do not assume you will receive one — contact them as soon as possible if you cannot pay the full amount upfront.

While your payment plan is being reviewed or while you are making payments, your license remains suspended. Reinstatement does not take effect until the full fee is paid.

What Happens If You Do Not Pay

If you do not pay your reinstatement fee, your license stays suspended indefinitely. You cannot legally drive in Florida or any other state while your license is suspended. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Florida and can result in arrest, fines up to $500, and jail time.

A suspended license also affects your ability to register a vehicle, renew your vehicle registration, or obtain car insurance. Some employers will not hire you if your license is suspended, and some insurance companies will not cover you if you drive with a suspended license and are in an accident.

The longer you wait to pay, the more complications can pile up. If you have other unpaid fines or court costs related to the original violation, those must also be resolved before reinstatement. Contact the DHSMV or the court that issued the suspension to confirm exactly what you owe and in what order to pay it.

Reinstatement Fee Plus Other Costs

The reinstatement fee is separate from other costs you may owe. If your license has expired while it was suspended, you will also owe a renewal fee — currently $48 for a standard four-year license or $75 for a six-year license. If you need a replacement license card (because yours was lost or damaged), that costs an additional $25.

If your suspension was due to unpaid traffic fines or court costs, you must pay those fines and costs to the court or the agency that issued the citation before the DHSMV will process your reinstatement. The reinstatement fee itself goes to the DHSMV, but the original fine goes to the court. You cannot skip the fine and just pay the reinstatement fee.

Some people also need to pay for a required course or test before reinstatement — for example, a drug offender education program or a vision test. These costs are separate from the reinstatement fee and vary depending on your suspension reason.

Reinstatement Fee Refunds

The DHSMV does not refund reinstatement fees once they are paid, even if your reinstatement is later denied for another reason. For example, if you pay the $45 reinstatement fee but then fail a required vision test, you keep the $45 and must pay it again if you want to reinstate after passing the test.

The only exception is if you pay the wrong fee by mistake — for example, if you pay $45 for a drug conviction suspension when the correct fee is $150. In that case, contact the DHSMV when ready with proof of your payment and explain the error. They may issue a credit toward the correct amount owed, but you must request this in writing or in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reinstate my license online and pay the fee at the same time?

Yes. The DHSMV website allows you to submit your reinstatement process and pay the fee online in one transaction. You will need your driver's license number, date of birth, and a credit or debit card. The process takes about 10 minutes, and you will receive a confirmation email when ready.

What if I do not know why my license was suspended?

Contact the DHSMV at 1-844-5-FLORIDA or check your driving record online through the DHSMV website. Your record will show the suspension reason and the correct fee. You can also visit a driver license office in person and ask a staff member to look up your suspension.

Do I have to pay the reinstatement fee before I take a required test or course?

No. If your suspension requires you to complete a course or pass a test before reinstatement, you can do that first. However, you must pay the reinstatement fee after you complete the requirement and before your license is actually reinstated and usable.

What if I paid the reinstatement fee but my license still shows as suspended?

Processing takes one to three business days after payment. If more than three business days have passed and your license still shows suspended, contact the DHSMV with your payment confirmation number. There may be an error in their system, or another requirement (like an unpaid fine) may be blocking reinstatement.

Can I get a payment plan if my fee is less than $150?

Payment plans are typically offered only for fees of $150 or more. For smaller fees ($45 or $75), the DHSMV expects full payment upfront. Contact them directly if you have a genuine hardship, but do not expect a plan to be approved for fees under $150.